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Page added on August 3, 2013
A Hankering for Hybrids
When automakers rolled out their new electric cars three years ago, they had big plans. Even President Obama, in his State of the Union address in 2011, predicted there would be as many as a million of them on the nation’s roads by the middle of the decade.
Results have, so far, fallen way short of expectations. Only about 36,000 battery-powered vehicles were sold this year through July, according to the auto research site Edmunds.com. And many of those sales were spurred by heavy discounts from car companies desperate to move electric models off the lot.
But for hybrid cars, it has been a different story. Automakers have sold about 298,000 hybrids, which alternately run on gasoline engines and battery power, so far this year.
And while electric vehicles may be considered greener and more glamorous, hybrids have quietly entered the mainstream of the American auto market.
Today, more than 40 conventional hybrid models are available, from mass-market automakers like Toyota and Ford to luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes. Hybrids account for about 3 percent of overall industry sales, with the market-leading Toyota Prius cracking the Top 10 list of best-selling passenger cars.
By contrast, automakers offer only about a dozen all-electric cars or plug-in models — which run on battery power with assistance from a gasoline engine — although more are on the way.
Industry analysts say that hybrid models are now showing up on the shopping lists of a broad range of consumers.
“Conventional hybrids are mainstream now,” said John O’Dell, the green-car editor at Edmunds. “You can envision almost anyone buying one.”
The reasons are many. Hybrids cost less than most electric models. There are no limitations on driving range based on battery power. And the technology, once seen as exotic and possibly unreliable, has been proved over time in real-world driving conditions.
One of the hybrid converts is Pandian Athirajan, an I.B.M. product manager in Austin, Tex. He had been considering buying a Prius for years before finally taking the plunge in May.
He bought the Prius to save gas and reduce vehicles emissions, but only because its hybrid system had been perfected by Toyota since it was introduced in 2000. “I wanted to buy a third-generation hybrid so that all kinks were ironed out,” Mr. Athirajan said.
For many consumers, price is the biggest factor in choosing a hybrid over a vehicle that runs primarily on battery power, though a $7,500 federal tax credit is available for plug-in models and all-electric cars.
For example, the base price for a regular, gasoline-powered Ford Fusion sedan is $21,900. The conventional hybrid version of the car goes for $26,200. But the plug-in variation costs $38,700. Faced with sluggish demand for electric vehicles, auto companies have increasingly been forced to slash prices to stimulate demand. Ford, for example, recently cut $4,000 from the price of its all-electric Focus.
Manufacturers are also fighting an uphill battle to win over consumers worried about the distances they can travel before recharging an a purely electric car.
That was one reason Mr. Athirajan chose a hybrid. Even though his hometown has several public charging stations, including one at his local Walmart, Mr. Athirajan was concerned about making the 300-mile drive to Houston twice a month to visit his daughter.
Mr. Athirajan said he was prepared to look into buying an electric vehicle in three or four years but that he thought the electric technology still needed to mature. He also said that four to six hours to charge the battery was too long.
“Most of the E.V. cars give anywhere between 75 to 125 miles between charge,” Mr. Athirajan said. “It will be O.K. for weekday office trips but not O.K. for weekend shopping and other trips, and definitely not suitable for my weekend trips to Houston.”
Despite the lukewarm acceptance of electric models, automakers are nevertheless pushing ahead with more of them. One critical consideration is the increasingly stringent fuel-economy rules set by the federal government, which mandate that a car company’s total fleet must average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, nearly double what it is today.
The pressure is even more acute in California, which has a zero-emission-vehicle program intended to cut pollution and increase sales of electric cars.
Chrysler, which is controlled by the Italian automaker Fiat, recently acknowledged that it would sell an electric version of the Fiat 500 minicar specifically to comply with California requirements.
Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of both Fiat and Chrysler, made a rare admission that his companies were willing to lose money on the vehicle as long as it helped them adhere to fuel-economy rules.
Analysts like Mr. O’Dell said the fuel and emissions standards possibly forced automakers to introduce electric vehicles before there was actual demand for them.
“It might have been better to continue improving conventional hybrids and do more plug-in vehicles first,” he said.
Still, car companies are continuing to invest heavily in all facets of alternative-fuel vehicles. Ford is spending about $400 million to design parts for electrified models and increasing its research into higher capacity batteries.
General Motors considers the plug-in Chevrolet Volt an important product in its lineup, but acknowledges that it has been a challenge to gain wide consumer acceptance. Last year, it cut production and this summer reduced the price by $4,000 in addition to offering more favorable lease terms to stimulate demand.
Nissan, which makes the all-electric Leaf, said it remained committed to the car. “Nissan’s priority is to make Leaf the first affordable, mass-market, zero-emission vehicle,” a Nissan spokesman, Brian Brockman, said.
Tesla, which makes an all-electric car, has had solid sales catering to the highest end of the market.
Analysts say that the public’s tepid response to electric vehicles, and the embrace of hybrids, is typical of the way people adopt new technology.
“They all come onto the market very slowly and then begin to accelerate,” said Philip G. Gott, senior director at IHS Automotive. “Hybrids are beginning to accelerate.”
Leading that growth is the Prius. Toyota’s decision to expand the Prius lineup to three hybrid models, along with a plug-in model, has been a big part of the company’s comeback in the United States from recalls linked to sudden acceleration issues. In July, Prius sales jumped 40 percent, to 23,294 — which includes only 817 plug-ins — and it was the 12th best-selling vehicle in the United States.
Toyota, which offers 11 hybrid models, including its Lexus brand, said that being first to the market helped the Prius remain the best-selling hybrid. The Prius accounts for about 70 percent of hybrids sold.
“It wasn’t an overnight success,” a Toyota spokeswoman, Jana Hartline, said. “It was considered by many to be a science experiment. I think it just took people a while to understand the benefits of hybrid technology, but now it’s pretty clear that there’s no compromise on the part of the consumer. You just get in, turn it on and drive.”
Toyota plans to offer 18 new or redesigned hybrid models by 2015 to expand its reach.
David Blum, a graphic designer from Lake Elsinore, Calif., bought a Prius last month to replace the older model he has driven since 2005. He originally purchased the Prius to take advantage of the incentives offered by California, including tax credits and a sticker that allows him to drive in the state’s car pool lanes.
“I got used to the mileage, and it was difficult to go back to a gasoline engine,” Mr. Blum said. “When you get 40 to 50 miles to the gallon, it just becomes the normal.”
He said he would not buy an electric car because the price was high and he would need to install a charging station in his garage.
“There is not yet an affordable electric option with enough range to make it viable,” he said.
12 Comments on "A Hankering for Hybrids"
Plantagenet on Sat, 3rd Aug 2013 11:41 pm
The transition away from oil is underway. The Prius is great but only a first step.
GregT on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 12:01 am
The top selling vehicle in the US for 2012 was the F-series pickup truck, with 645,000 sold. The next best selling vehicle was the Chevy Silverado pickup truck, with 418,000 sold. The top selling car was the Toyota Camry with 414,000 sold. The Honda Accord, Honda Civic, and Nissan Altima all sold just over 300,000 models, and in seventh place was the Dodge Ram pickup truck at 293,000 sold.
This does not come as a surprise to me, because as I drive around the city where I currently reside, I see more full sized trucks on the road than I have ever seen before. Most people do not seem to be deterred from driving large vehicles even when gasoline prices are at all time highs. As a matter of fact, it appears that many consider it to be a status symbol to drive a full sized SUV or pickup truck.
Hybrids are few and far between, unless we’re talking about taxi cabs, which I would estimate about half of the fleet has converted to. I have only ever seen 3 all electric vehicles on the road. All 3 were Nissan Leafs.
Considering that over 40% of US electric power generation is from coal, I very much doubt that the electric vehicle is doing much to curb CO2, or greenhouse gas emissions.
Better to walk, or ride a bike.
BillT on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 2:04 am
Hybrids are toys for the few. They will never be a significant percent of the personal vehicle world. Ditto for electrics, for many more reasons.
When the economy is in free fall, there is no money to switch to expensive alternates, even if the desire is there.
Mark Renburke on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 3:31 am
There are three fallacies about Electric Vehicles that are perpetuated in this piece by the use of quotes from the hybrid owners. The first is that the technology is not advanced enough yet to be practical. The second is that EVs are too expensive (in fact many are less than the average new car price of $31k). The third is that a home charging station is required (in fact for 80% of drivers a standard 115 volt electric outlet is all that is required)
In response to the first comment: Actually the first real step in the transition away from oil is not hybrids, but rather *plug-in* hybrids; and more specifically those whose EV range and performance is completely independent from the gasoline. Currently the Chevy Volt is the only vehicle on the market that meets this criteria.
With regards to the second comment: The argument that 40% of electricity being generated by coal means EVs would not do much to curb emmissions is flawed for four reasons: 1) the vast majority of EVs purchased to date (and for a long time to come) are in states where coal usage is MUCH lower than 40%; for example California is #1; and Washington State, which is negligle coal and 71% zero emission hydrolelectric. 2) The grid has been getting cleaner every year and will continue to do so. As it does, so do EVs. Gas cars do not. 3) Even at 100% coal powered (think West Virginia) due to its efficiency, an EV still creates less emmissions than a 30+ mpg gas car; while the current fleet mpg of all vehicles in the US is only 24 mpg 4) Finally, the vast majority of EV do and will charge overnight when electricity is at a surplus due to coal-fire plants that need to stay hot. EVs would use this surplus for years to cone with only gradual increases to supply needed.
Though not emmissions related, it is also worthy to note that EVs also virtually ensure that their energy will come from domestic sources, and the money will not flow directly out of our economy; whereas oil is a gloal commodity subject to the price and supply whims of a diverse and potential unstable world market.
rollin on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 5:01 am
I got a Rolls Canardli.
“What’s that?” you say.
It rolls down one hill and can hardly roll up the next.
The definition of the ultimate green car.
Greg, it’s too far to walk and bikers get run over by the pick-ups because there is no shoulder on the country roads. Better just to stay home.
DC on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 11:01 am
Another ad for the hybrid greenwash hype machine. So called hybrids do nothing to reduce pollution, congestion, traffic deaths, smog-nothing.There only purpose, there real one, is to make the gas-burning car ‘respectable’ again. IE greenwash. So kudos(i guess) to the oil-auto cartel for managing to convince the brain-dead masses that buying ‘hybrids’ is in some, vague, unscientific way, ‘good’ for the environment.
Of course, the NY times points out that people are ‘scared’ of EVs because of their limited range. Never asked, is why its necessary every single day that 10s of millions of toxic metal and plastic boxes hit the road in order to meet the simplest and most basic of human needs. As far as amerika and the NY times is concerned, its cars all the way down.
csatadi on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 12:34 pm
Why there aren’t solar panels on electric and hybrid cars???
Beery on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 1:27 pm
I’m seeing the same resurgence of SUVs on the road that GregT observes. It seems Americans have got over their shock at oil prices and $3.50/gallon is the new $1.00/gallon. It will take a new oil shock and a new permanent rise in prices for the SUV to go away, and even then perhaps only temporarily.
Eventually, gasoline as a fuel for personal transportation will be replaced by other fuels, and with it will go a lot of the inefficiencies in the cars and trucks we use. Hopefully, at some point people will realize that in a world in which energy is getting more and more expensive, fueling 4,000 lbs of vehicle to transport a 200 lb human is inherently inefficient and mind-bogglingly stupid. However, we’re not there yet.
Beery on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 1:38 pm
“…bikers get run over by the pick-ups because there is no shoulder on the country roads.”
LOL. Another person who completely misunderstands cycling safety. I have trained as a cycling safety instructor and I’ve spent three years studying crash reports and statistics and learning the real causes of cyclist crashes, injuries and deaths. Let me clue you in on the reality of cycling and cycling safety.
Firstly, statistics show that cyclists don’t get run over by pick-ups at anywhere near the frequency with which motorists get killed by pick-ups. Cycling is twice as safe as driving. the idea that cycling is dangerous is a myth.
Secondly, riding on the shoulder is less safe than riding in the road. Studies show that the safest place to ride a bicycle is in the middle of the rightmost lane that serves your destination. The farther right a cyclist rides, the less safe he is. Riding on the shoulder is about twice as likely to get a cyclist killed than riding well into the traffic lane, because cyclists outside the traffic lane are less visible and more likely to be sideswiped, rear-ended or hit at an intersection.
Avoiding the traffic lane for fear of cars injures and kills cyclists every day.
BillT on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 3:22 pm
Berry, you are correct of course. About 100 people, on average, do not come home from their car trip every day in the US. The number of cyclists killed is way down the list.
Kenz300 on Sun, 4th Aug 2013 4:32 pm
Cities need to become more people centered and less car centered. Bicycles and mass transit options need to be improved in most cities to make commuting by bicycle safe and convenient.
If you need a car then you need to think about the price of the fuel and its availability. We need more options to break the oil monopoly on transportation fuels. Electric, flex-fuel, hybrid, biofuel, CNG, LNG and hydrogen fueled vehicles are all options that are growing in popularity and that is a good thing. Competition is good for the consumer.
I remember when the Prius first came out and all the auto writers panned it as slow, ugly and not practical. Toyota even lost money on them the first few years. Now Toyota is laughing all the way to the bank. Saving fuel (energy) saves money. As the price of oil continues to climb higher more and more people will see the benefit of these alternative fueled vehicles and switch to one that works for them..
andy b on Mon, 5th Aug 2013 7:47 pm
Hi csatadi
some hybrids do have solar panels, but the power generated is tiny compared with how much the car uses to move, and it just powers circulating fans on hot days to keep cars cool.
in Australia there is a solar car race with cars travelling across the country just on solar power. however, these cars are not practical for the way we use cars. they are too slow, rely on desert condition sunlight, cannot carry any loads, or passengers.